South Williamsport at Montgomery preview
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South PPG--51.5, PPA--0; YPG--416, YPA--29
Background: Saturday night's game is a huge one with Montgomery and South, the NTL-II's top two finishers a year ago. Montgomery defeated South, 42-14 in Week 9 a year ago to capture the league championship. The Red Raiders also beat South for the first time since 2009. That year also is the last time, Montgomery defeated South at home.
South notes: South (2-0) likely is eager for a battle after blasting North Penn-Mansfield and Sayre the first two weeks. The Mounties did not surrender positive yardage this season until the second half of last week's 55-0 victory. South has won seven of its last eight regular season games, its lone blemish being that Montgomery game. Eli White has gone over 100 yards rushing in each of the first two games and Cade Lusk is the area's leading active career rusher with 2,045 yards. Garrett Lorson also topped 500 yards last year and quarterback Cole Gerber set a Mountie single-season record with 1,451 yards. He has topped 100 yards and thrown touchdowns in each of the first two games. Levi Butler set a program record with 63 catches last year. Dominik Goode has fueled a stifling defense thus far and Dominick Barclay has three tackles for loss. Samir Moy caught a touchdown last week and intercepted three passes as a freshman last year, including a game-clincher at Muncy. Fellow sophomore Taylor Naugle led the team in picks a year ago with five and ripped off a 38-yard touchdown run against Sayre. Kaiden Paulhamus leads all area kickers in points with 13, going 13 of 13 on extra-point tries.
South player to watch--Kamdyn Bubb: The junior two-way lineman is one of the area's premier blockers and anchors a stout line. Bubb helped South produce a 1,000-yard passer and rusher last year and is a good run stuffer defensively who also has a sack.
Montgomery PPG--36.0, PPA--7.0; YPG--322, YPA--141
Montgomery notes: Montgomery (2-0) also has rolled to convincing wins the first two weeks, producing its fifth shutout in two years in the opener against Hughesville. The Red Raiders have picked up where they left off last fall when they produced one of the best seasons in program history, going 10-2 and reaching the District 4 Class A championship. Montgomery went undefeated in league play a year ago and has won nine straight regular-season games. Like South, the Raiders are a physical team which likes to try and impose its will. Running backs Josh Knoebel and Trace Furman both went over 1,000 yards last year and each has a 100-yard game this season; Knoebel going for 141 in last week's 48-14 win at Canton. Knoebel also returned an interception for a score in that game as did sophomore Hayden Denton. Briar Persing also found Gage Furman for an 18-yard touchdown. Furman earned all-state honors at safety last fall and intercepted a pass against Canton. Denton and Cameron Woltz each made 10 tackles. Brothers Evan and Ethan Hugar help anchor the offensive line and Evan had a big defensive game in the opener as did linebacker Lincoln Miller. Montgomery limited South to 160 yards a year ago.
Montgomery player to watch--Connor Jarrett: A four-year starter along both lines, Jarrett provides both muscle and leadership and is off to a strong start this senior season. He and Waltz both had sacks last week and Jarrett's ability to command attention up front, opens up lanes for linebackers and safeties to flow.
Outlook: These teams mirror each other in a lot of ways right down to their dominant starts this season. This is the first major test for both squads and it would not be shocking to see it come down to the last minute or two. The battle in the trenches should be pretty fierce and whoever prevails there will likely win this one.